Sacrificial objects - Early-Dogon - Mali

A fine collection of antique ritual objects made of wood. These items (three "ladders" and one dancing staff), were placed alongside the deceased in the grottos where they were interred. The ladders were intended as a "stairway to heaven", connecting the deceased person to the afterlife and the ancestors. The staff symbolizes the dances and rituals performed for the deceased. Possibly pre 19th. and are of an early-Dogon origin. Maybe they are even of Tellem origin; the predecessors of the Dogon in the region of the Falaise de Bandiagara in Central Mali.
Two ladders have a socle. The heights of the ladders vary from 27-28 to 50 cm. for the tallest. This is a very rare to find height for this last item.
The small ritual dancing staff is 37 cm high and is gabled at the end. Very nice patina on this item.
All items were collected in the Pays Dogon in the 1990`s and come from a private collection.